Concentrating table



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United States Patent 3,291,306 (IONCENTRATING TABLE Spencer A. Stone,Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor to The Deister Concentrator Company Inc, FortWayne, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No.467,407 6 Claims. (Cl. 209-441) This invention relates generally toconcentrating tables, and particularly to concentrating tables of themultipledeck type which are pendantly supported.

Concentrating tables of the general character referred to have two typesof uses. First, there is the use for coal washing purposes, and atwo-deck table suitable for such purpose is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.3,075,644, granted January 29, 1963, to Frederick S. Ambrose. Second,there are tables intended for ore dressing purposes, as represented byBelgian Patent No. 618,405, granted December 3, 1962, to Dei-Con EasternCorporation. While coal washing tables and ore dressing tables operateaccording to the same theoretical principles, their construction andtheir practical mode of operation are, in many respects, antithetical,as fully explained in the aforesaid Belgian patent. In each case, it iscustomary to provide such tables with means by which the inclination ofthe deck may be changed about axes which are more or less perpendicularto each other. For changes in so-ca-lled side tilt, a deck is rotatedabout an axis which is more or less parallel to the direction of thethrust which reciprocates the deck. For changes in so-called endelevation, a deck is rotated about an axis which is substantiallyhorizontal, but more or less perpendicular to the direction of thethrust which reciprocates the deck.

In coal washing operations, a table once adjusted to the character ofcoal being processed on it is seldom changed. On the other hand, in oredressing operations, both side tilt and end elevation, particularly theformer, are subject to repeated and frequent adjustment.

The decks of such tables are forcibly reciprooated in a substantiallyhorizontal direction and are also subject to secondary vibration which,in the case of coal washing tables, is usually insignificant insofar asconcerns the practical operation, but, in the case of ore dressingoperations, may adversely affect the economy of operation and theproficiency with which the table separates the small percentage ofvalues from the large percentage of tailing.

Various means are disclosed in the aforesaid patents for accomplishingboth side tilt and end elevation, and each contemplates, in a fashion,the stabilization of the decks against secondary vibration. In eachcase, however, the means intended to stabilize the decks againstsecondary vibration involves connecting one deck to another, andoverlooks the possibility that such a stabilizer may cause the severaldecks thus connected together to vibrate as a unit, but at a differentfrequency and with a different amplitude than the individual decks wouldvibrate if unconnected with another deck. In spite of the fact that alldecks of a given table may be made according to the same drawings andspecifications, and within the same manufacturing tolerances, no twodecks are identical with respect to vibration tendencies. Such decks andtheir framing are commonly constructed of wood, and consequently onedeck differs from another at least to the extent that one piece oftimber inevitably differs from another in spite of the highest degree ofprecision in selection and manufacture.

An object of the present invention is therefore to stabilize eachindividual deck against vibration.

A further object of the invention is to provide for adjustment of eachindividual deck for side tilt by means which does not influence, pro orcon, the tendency of a given deck to vibrate.

The present invention contemplates, generally, a vibration stabilizerfor each deck independently of another, and the provision of side tiltadjusting mechanism located substantially in alignment with the axisabout which a deck is rotated to vary it in side tilt. Morespecifically, the invention contemplates the provision of each deck withan independent means for exerting a biasing force thereon in a verticaldirection, such force being of magnitude sufficient to restrain the deckfrom moving under vibration in the direction counter to said force.Moreover the invention contemplates the provision of side tilt adjustingmeans at the mechanical thrust transmitting member which delivers forceand motion from a reciprocating force generator to each deck.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a multiple-deckconcentrating table of the pendantly supported type, wherein both thereciprocating force generator and the decks are suspended from asuper-structure so that the entire organization is free to pendulatewithout transmitting vibrations to the building structure in which theconcentrating table is housed. The reciprocating force generator, andthe mode of suspending the table in the illustrating embodiment, is thesame in principle as that disclosed in the aforesaid patents, andconsequently reference may be made thereto for details not specificallydisclosed herein. In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a triple deck concentrating table ofthe character shown in the aforesaid Belgian patent, but provided withvibration stabilizers and side tilt adjusting means constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the type of table shown inFIGURE 1, but with different end elevation adjustment means, as Well asindependent differing side tilt adjustment means, and with thecollection launders removed for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the table shown in FIGURE 2 taken fromthe discharge end;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the table shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation, partially in section, taken along line 5-5of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the side tilt adjustingmeans of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a view in side elevation of the side tilt adjusting meansshown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the side tilt adjusting means shown inFIGURES 6 and 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the invention is illustratedin the form of an embodiment having three reciprocable decks 1, 2 and 3,each provided with a feed box 4 and a wash water launder 5 of theconventional type, but seen only on deck 1 in FIGURE 1. The feed boxesand wash water launders are located along the high side of each of thedecks. In the form shown, each deck is provided with a headboard 6 whichextends, to a slight extent, about the corner opposite the feed box, asshown at 7. The foreground corner 8 of deck 1 is denominated themiddling corner. Between the middling corner 8 and the extension 7 ofheadboard 6 is the so-called discharge side 9, where the surface of thedeck bevels downwardly outside the riffled area It) so as to overhangthe open tops of collection launders such as 11 for deck 1, 12 for deck2, and 13 for deck 3. Beyond the end of the wash water launder 5, alldecks are provided with a sideboard extension 14 (seen only on deck 1 inFIGURE 1). Between the terminus of extension 14- and middling corner 8is the discharge end 15, where the surface of the deck bevels downwardlyso as to overhang the open tops of collection launders such as 16 fordeck 1, 26 for deck 2, and 36 for deck 3. The rifiles in the rifiledarea may be constructed and arranged in-any desired manner which isappropriate for the intended use of the concentrating table, as wellunderstood by those skilled in the art, and indeed, in some instances,the decks need not be riffied. The deck 1, as thus described, is wellknown in the art, and the invention is not limited to decks of theparticular construction. In the embodiment illustrated, wherein alldecks are intended to be supplied With raw material of the same consist,the decks 1, 2 and 3 are duplicates of each other, but in cases wherethey consist of the feed for one deck may differ from that of another,the decks may differ in detail as to rifiling.

The collection launders 11, 12, 13, 16, 26, and 36 are likewise ofconventional construction, but may, if desired, differ. The severalcollection launders are fixedly supported from a floor or suitableunder-structure by columns 17, 18, and 19 in the conventional manner, soas to be entirely independent of the required movement of the decks.

In contrast to the fixed support for the several collection launders,the several decks are pendantly supported for collective reciprocatingmovement, and otherwise mounted for occasional collective adjustmentrelative to fixed structures and occasional individual adjustmentrelative to each other. The reciprocating movement of the several decksis induced by any suitable head motion device, preferably of the typewhich inherently generates substantially horizontal reciprocatory motionthat is characterized by quicker reversal at one end of the stroke thanat the other. One form of such a head motion device is disclosed in theaforesaid United States Patent No. 3,075,644, and is suitable for usewith this invention. Such a head motion device 25 may be pendantlysupported from an overhead structure in the manner shown in said Belgianpatent, but is preferably supported from an overhead structure 27 bymeans of two pair of cables 28. The deck assembly is also supported, inpart, by cables 28 and in part from an overhead structure 29 and a cable30 at the discharge end of the table, as shown in FIGURE 2. The yoke 33is fixedly secured at 34 to head motion 25, and is pivotally secured bypin 21 to deck 1, by pin 22 to deck 2, and by pin 23 to deck 3.

The several decks are adjustable for end elevation individually andcollectively about their corresponding pivot pins 21, 22 and 23. Suchcollective adjustment is accomplishable by manipulation of turn-buckle39 in cable 30; and such individual adjustment in end elevation isaccomplishable by manipulation of adjusting screws 40, 41 and 42 on yokebar 35, as described in the aforesaid Belgian patent.

The mechanism for accomplishing adjustment in side tilt of theindividual decks is actuated by handwheel 43 for deck 1, 44 for deck 2,and 45 for deck 3. Manipulation of the respective handwheels produceslimited rotation of the corresponding deck about a substantiallyhorizontal axis perpendicular to the axes of pins 21, 22 and 23,respectively, and lying midway between the ends of those pins, as willnow be described with reference to FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9.

As the side tilt adjusting mechanism associated with the respectivehandwheels are of identical construction, that associated with deck 3will be taken for illustration. The shaft 46 of handwheel 45 passesthrough a lug 47, which is a part of bracket 48, rigidly connected tothe yoke 33 at the level of deck 3. Shaft 46 is secured against axialmovement relative to lug 47, as by means of collars 50 and 51 attachedto the shaft on opposite sides of the lug. Within lug 47, shaft 46 isjournalled by a bearing, preferably of the ball and socket type wellknown in the art, so as to permit limited angular displacement of shaft46 about an axis designated as xx in FIGURE 6. On the opposite side oflug 47 from handwheel 45, shaft 46 is provided with a lead screw 52which meshes Within complemental threads on the interior of block 53.Consequently, when block 53 is held against rotation, rotation ofhandwheel 45 results in movement of block 53 toward and away from lug47, depending upon the sense of the rotation.

Block 53 is provided with a crank-pin 54, the outer end of which isreceived within a socket 55 in the lower end of a lug 56, which forms apart of bracket 57, which latter is fixedly secured to the sub-frame 49of deck 3, .as shown clearly in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 6, bracket 57 is also provided with a lug 58corresponding to lug 56 (save that lug 58 has no socket such as 55), andthe two are spaced apart for a distance more than sufficient toaccommodate between them a lug 59 on bracket 48 within which is mountedthe swivel bearing structure for pin 23. Pin 23 is in turn connected tolugs 56 and 58 by saddle members 60 and 61, respectively. Accordingly,when pin 54 is moved toward or away from lug 47 by rotation of handwheel45, the deck sub-frarne 49 is driven in limited rotation about axis yyrelative to pin 23, and parts 56, 57, 58, 60 and 61 which engage it,thereby increasing or decreasing (depending upon the sense in whichhandwheel 45 is rotated) the degree of side tilt of deck 3.

While, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, bracket 57 and its adjunctparts are secured to the subframe 49 of the deck, and bracket 48, withits adjunct parts, is secured to the yoke 33, it will be understood thatbracket 57 may, if desired, be secured to the yoke and bracket 48secured to the sub-frame, as desired, without affecting the mode ofoperation of the parts. In either event, the reciprocating thrustgenerated by head motion 25 is transmitted by pin 23 from yoke 33 to thesub-frame of the corresponding deck. The structure of the swivel bearingon pin 23 which permits the aforesaid limited rotation about axis y-y(shown in FIGURE 8) is more fully depicted in FIGURE 9 of the drawings.Pin 23 has an enlarged central section 64, upon the exterior of which ismounted a ball sleeve 65 whose interior surface is cylindrical, butwhose exterior surface is a doubly truncated sphere. About sleeve 65,there is a ring 66 whose interior surface is substantially contragenericto the exterior spherical portion of the surface of sleeve 65, and whoseexterior surface is substantially cylindrical, or otherwise shaped so asto fit within opening 67 in lug 59. On either side of lug 59, between itand lugs 56 and 58, there is one of a pair of resilient washers 68,which, while acting as a lubricant seal, permits limited rotation of lug59 relative to lugs 56 and 58, as illustrated by the dotted lines inFIGURE 9. In order to compensate for wear between ball 65 and ring 66,the latter may be cut through radially at one side so as to leave a gapabout a saW-kerf wide; as cut 62 made in lug 59, so that upon tighteninga cap screw 63, the cut gap in ring 66 may be contracted.

With a table whose end elevation adjustment facilities are of the typewherein pivotal movement about the axis of pins 21, 22 or 23 isundesirable, such movement may be prevented by any suitable expedient,such as pinning the parts of 64 and 65 together in a manner which doesnot interfere with limited pivotal movement about the axis yy to varyside tilt. Regardless of whether the end elevation adjusting facilitiesare of the character just mentioned or that shown in FIGURE 2, thesaddles 60 and 61 are preferably drawn down tight or otherwise equippedso as to restrain rotation of the pins 21, 22 and 23 relative to theirrespective lugs 56 and 58.

Hinging (about the axes of pins 21, 22 and 23) of brackets 57 whichattach to the yoke 33 relative to the respective decks during normaloperation may sometimes contribute to the introduction of vibration, orother secondary motion in remote portions of the decks. To stabilize thedeck against such vibrations and secondary motion in structures such asthat shown in FIGURE 2, where during normal operation there is continualvibrating action, the invention contemplates means for verticallybiasing the portions of the respective decks most remote from theirpoints of suspension. In the form shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, theareas of the deck most remote from their points of suspension are themiddling corners 69, and the feed box corners 70. The dampening ofsecondary motion and vibration in the decks is most important atmiddling corners 69 when the table is being used for ore dressing.However, secondary motion at the feed box corners 70, while exertingremote, or no direct, effect upon the ore dressing operation, may, andsometimes does, induce secondary motion in those areas of the tablewhere separation of the value from the gangue or tailings is activelytaking place. Consequently, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, thevertical biasing means is applied at both the middling corners and atthe feed box corners of the several decks, it being understood that thelatter may, in many instances, be eliminated without adversely affectingthe operation.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the vertical biasing meanstakes the form of weights of suflicient magnitude to strain the deckstructure in one vertical direction, to a degree such as to resist thevibration and secondary forces which tend to move the deck in theopposite vertical direction. As illustrated, this result is accomplishedby connecting, at the middling corner of the sub-frame of each deck, acable 71 for deck 1, 72 for deck 2, and 73 for deck 3. The respectivecables are trained over sheaves 74 for cable 71, 75 for cable 72, and 76for cable 73. The respective sheaves have their axes fixedly mountedupon super-structure 29. The upper ends of the respective cables, afterpassing over their corresponding sheave, are connected to weights 77 forcable 71, 78 for cable 72, and 79 for cable 73. The Weights 77, 78 and79 are not necessarily of the same finite magnitude, it beingunderstood, as mentioned before, that the vibration characteristics oftwo decks are seldom identical. Accordingly, the magnitude of each ofthe weights is determined in practice by trial and error so as tocounterbalance, as near as practical, the forces which tend to inducevibration or secondary motion. The arrangement of sheaves and weights isdesirably such that, in normal operation of the table, no cable collideswith another, and no cable collides with a weight; and the weights aresufficiently spaced, as shown, that they do not collide one with theother during operation.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, a similar arrangement is mounted at thefeed box corner, where cable 81 extends from the sub-frame of deck 1,cable 82 extends from the sub-frame of deck 2, and cable 83 extends fromthe sub-frame of deck 3. Each of these cables extends upwardly over asheave 84 for deck 1, 85 for deck 2, and 86 for deck 3. The respectivesheaves have their axes mounted upon super-structure 27. After passingupwardly over their respective sheaves, the downward reach of therespective cables is connected to a weight 87 for cable 81, 88 for cable82, and 89 for cable 83. In this instance, as before, the magnitude ofthe respective weights is determined according to the idiosyncrasies ofthe deck with which it is associated, and, by trial and error, isadjusted so as to counterbalance forces which tend to induce vibrationor secondary motion.

When and if desired, the respective weights 77, 78 and 79 may besurrounded by a protective basket, such as 90, supported by a bracket 91from super-structure 29.

Thus, irrespective of the manner in which the decks and head motion arependantly mounted, or the manner in which end elevation is accomplished,each individual deck is stabilized against vibrations and unwantedsecondary movement by the attachment of vibration dampening weights toat least one, and preferably both, of the corners which are most subjectthereto because they are farthest from the pendant supports. Likewise,in each embodiment, the vibration damper consists of cables extendingfrom each deck over a fixedly mounted sheave, and provided with acounterweight of sufficient magnitude to maintain the flexible cable intension and exert an upward bias on the corner of the deck sufficient toovercome the tendency for those corners of the deck to vibrate in thevertical direction.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand that the invention accomplishes its objects, and provides amultiple-deck pendant- 1y supported concentrating table wherein therespective decks are stabilized against unwanted motion withoutimpairing their freedom for individual adjustment in side tilt duringoperation of the device, or introducing lost motion into thereciprocating action. While one complete embodiment of the side tiltadjusting mechanism and the vibration damper arrangement has beendisclosed in detail and explained in connection with two different formsof table mounting, it is not to be understood that the in vention islimited to the details of the foregoing disclosure, but, on thecontrary, that the principles of the invention may be embodied in otherforms and applied to pendantly supported tables which differ in detailfrom those disclosed, all without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a multiple-deck pendantly supported concentrating table of thecharacter in which the reciprocating motion is generated by a pendantlysupported head motion of the polyeccentric flywheel type having quickerreversal of thrust at one end of its stroke than at the other end, theimprovement which comprises, each deck having, independently of otherdecks, a flexible cable extending substantially vertical from its cornermost remote from the head motion and movable means for exerting anupward force on said flexible cable.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the movable means is a sheave overwhich the flexible cable is trained and a counterweight connected to thecable on the opposite side of said sheave from the cables connectionwith its deck.

3. In a multiple-deck pendantly supported concentrating table having ahead motion of the character which generates reciprocating motion andmeans for connecting the head motion to the respective decks, theimprovement which comprises, means providing a pivot axis between eachdeck and the head motion, said pivot axis extending generally parallelto the direction of said reicprocating motion, adjusting means adjacenteach of said pivotal axes, said adjusting means having a firstconnection fixed relative to said deck and a second connection fixedrelative to said head motion, and means between said connections forvarying the distance therebetween, said lastnamed means being offsetfrom said pivot axis.

4. In a multiple-deck concentrating table having a head motion of thecharacter which generates reciprocating motion wherein the reversal isquicker at one end of the stroke than at the other end, said head motionhaving a yoke rigidly attached thereto, and said yoke having separatepivot connections with the respective decks, the improvement whichcomprises, adjusting means adjacent each of said pivotal connections butoffset from the axes thereof respectively, said means having one endconnected in force-transmitting relation with said yoke and its otherend connected in force-transmitting relation with said deck.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein said adjusting means includes alead screw and a threaded follower, one of said screw and follower partsbeing secured against movement axially thereof relative to said yoke,and the other of said male and female parts being secured againstmovement axially thereof relative to said deck.

6. In a pendantly supported multiple-deck concentrating table having apendantly supported head motion of the polyeccentric flywheel typecharacterized by quicker reversal of thrust at one end of its strokethan at the other end and means for transmitting said thrust toreciprocate 7 said decks concurrently, the improvement which comprises,each deck being connected to said head motion by means including a pivotaxis extending generally parallel to the direction of the reciprocatingmotion, adjusting means adjacent each of said pivot axes connected tothe respective decks in offset relationship to its corresponding axis,said adjusting means being also connected to said head motion and havinga lead screw and threaded followers in extensible and contractiblerelationship between said connections, each deck having at diagonallyopposite corners thereof a flexible cable extending upwardly over asheave mounted on an immovable axis, a separate counterweight connectedto each of said cables on the 8 opposite side of its correspondingsheave from the portion thereof connected with the deck, saidcounterweights being respectively of a magnitude such as to maintaintheir corresponding flexible cables under constant tension and theircorresponding deck corners under strain resisting the tension of saidcables.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK W. LUTTER,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A MULTIPLE-DECK PENDANTLY SUPPORTED CONCENTRATING TABLE OF THECHARACTER IN WHICH THE RECIPROCATING MOTION IS GENERATED BY A PENDANTLYSUPPORTED HEAD MOTION OF THE POLYECCENTRIC FLYWHEEL TYPE HAVING QUICKERREVERSAL OF THRUST AT ONE END OF ITS STROKE THAN AT THE OTHER END, THEIMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, EACH DECK HAVING, INDEPENDENTLY OF OTHERDECKS, A FLEXIBLE CABLE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FROM ITS CORNERMOST REMOTE FROM THE HEAD MOTION AND MOVABLE MEANS FOR EXERTING ANUPWARD FORCE ON SAID FLEXIBLE CABLE.